Author's Note: I'M SO SORRY EVERYONE! But school has been real threatening lately, no time for writing. And I've just been so caught up. But hopefully I'll be able to produce more chapters for y'all to read!

Simply Complicated

Sean jumped into Jimmy's red convertible and they zoomed off to find their friends. First on the list was Ashley Kerwin.

When they arrived at a quaint little brick house, Ellie went up the driveway and rang the doorbell. Her mother answered.

"Who is this?" She asked through a screen door.

"Oh, hi Ms. Kerwin. It's Ellie Nash, do you remember me?" Ellie managed a smile and Ms. Kerwin opened the screen door.

"I suppose you're looking for Ashley? Let me go get her." A few minutes later, Ashley appeared in front of Ellie.

"Ellie?" Ashley had dark circles under her eyes.

"Have you been sleeping enough?" Ellie hugged her. "Is it because of . . ." Ellie didn't finish her sentence.

"Yes. But why are you here?"

"We're going after Rick." Ashley immediately understood and nodded. She rushed back in and came back with a small suitcase.

"Mom, I'm leaving with Ellie to go camping for a while . . . scouting." Her mom came back out and hugged Ashley and then Ellie.

"Have a good time girls."

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­After explaining what they planned to do to Ashley, they rushed off to find Craig. They arrived at Joey's house and all four of them rushed up to ring the door bell.

"Craig! Can you get that?" Joey's voice rang out.

"Yeah," Craig appeared momentarily. "Whoa, what's everyone doing here?" He had a confused look on his face.

"We're going after Rick. Are you coming?" Ashley blurted out.

"Um, yeah, one minute, let me get my stuff." He returned with a coat. "Joey, I'm going to be leaving for a day or two. I hope you don't mind." And they left without looking back at Joey's concerned face as he called out to them.

"So we're going to do exactly what to Rick?" Craig had been thinking of this question.

"I'm not sure, but we need to do it fast." Sean stared at nothing but the blank road ahead of them.

"Two days and Hazel comes back. We can find Paige tomorrow. Let's find a place to camp out for a while. Did anyone bring money?" Jimmy held up $90.

"I have some; I thought we might need it." Ashley brought out $100. "It's from my savings."

"Same here." Craig pulled out a wad of $80.

"I . . . I don't have anything. I'm sorry guys." Sean continued to look forward.

"No problem man. We're cool with that. It's your idea anyways. That jerk could be out there doing anything he wanted even if he murdered a girl who meant so much to all of us. Why should he be let that freedom when he took a girl's life?"